Pampanga gov ready to face Senate probe on jueteng payola

Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda on Tuesday said she is ready to face the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the jueteng mess after she was tagged as one of the local officials allegedly benefiting from the illegal numbers game. “Puwede naman ako magpaliwanag sa Senado. Ang sa akin din naman, bigyan sana ako ng pagkakataon ng Senado na magpaliwanag din," she said in an interview over QTV 11’s “Balitanghali." (I can explain to the Senate. I hope they will give me a chance to explain my side.) The Pampanga governor made this statement after retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz identified her as a "jueteng lord" during a Senate committee hearing. (See: Puno, Verzosa, other gov't execs tagged in jueteng mess) Aside from Pineda, Interior Undersecretary Rico Escalona Puno and former National Police chief Jesus Verzosa were also identified by Cruz as jueteng payola recipients during Tuesday’s Senate committee hearing.

In the same television interview, Pineda said that while she "respects" Cruz’s right to make these accusations, she expects the Senate to also honor her right to clear her name. "Malaki ang respeto ko kay Bishop Cruz. Syempre Katoliko rin tayo… May karapatan siya na mag-akusa sa kahit na sino. Ako rin naman, may karapatan na magpaliwanag," she said. (I respect Bishop Cruz, especially because I'm a Catholic. He has a right to accuse anyone. But I have a right to explain myself.) Asked if the jueteng operations still take place in her province, Pineda said she would have to consult with the provincial police director first before issuing any further statement. "Hindi ko puwedeng sabihin na walang-wala na. Tatanungin ko talaga ‘yung aking (I can't say that it has been totally eliminated. I will ask my) provincial director tungkol dito (about that)," she said. She added that as far as she knows, only government-approved small town lottery (STL) operations take place in Pampanga. Pineda, who won by landslide over priest-turned-politician Ed Panlilio during the May polls, has long been linked to the illegal numbers game. Her husband, Rodolfo “Bong" Pineda, was investigated by Congress in 1998, 2000 and 2005 on allegations that he is a jueteng lord. The Pampanga governor has also been accused of bribing poll officials in the province to ensure the victory of then presidential candidate and fellow Kapampangan, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, during the 2004 elections. (See: In Pampanga, local elections heat up in yet another Panlilio-Pineda face-off) — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV